Cambodian refugee camp survivor Loung Ung will speak at Austin College Tuesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium of Sherman Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. A book signing and reception will follow the presentation.
Loung Ung was five years old when the Khmer Rouge stormed into her native city of Phnom Penh. Four years later, in what has been described as one of the bloodiest genocides of the 20th century, some two million Cambodians—out of a population of seven million—died at the hands of the infamous Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. The victims included Loung’s parents, two sisters, and 20 other relatives. In 1980, Loung and her older brother and sister-in-law escaped by boat to Thailand where they spent five months in a refugee camp. They then were able to relocate to Vermont through sponsorship by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
.As an author, lecturer, and activist, she has dedicated 20 years to promoting equality, human rights, and justice in her native land and worldwide. She has made more than 30 trips back to Cambodia.
Her memoir, First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, published by HarperCollins in 2000, was a national bestseller and recipient of the 2001 Asian/Pacific American Librarians’ Association award for “Excellence in Adult Non-Fiction Literature.” It has been published in 14 countries and translated into German, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, French, Spanish, Italian, Cambodian, and Japanese. She also wrote Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind, and LuLu in the Sky. Both titles are widely used in high schools, colleges, and community reading programs. Loung also has been the subject of numerous television programs and documentary films for NHK, ARTE, and Nightline.
In 2013, Loung expanded her activism reach as one of the writers of “Girl Rising,” a film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbin. The film tells the stories of nine extraordinary girls from nine countries, written by nine celebrated writers and narrated by nine renowned actresses. “Girl Rising” showcases the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world.
In recognition of her work, The World Economic Forum selected Loung as one of the “100 Global Youth Leaders of Tomorrow.” She has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, London Sunday Times, Glamour, and more. She also has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including CNN International, Talk of the Nation, Weekend Edition, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and The Today Show.
Loung has shared her messages of activism and peace at schools, universities, and other forums throughout the United States and abroad, including Taipei American School, Singapore American School, UN Conferences on Women in Beijing, Against Racism and Discriminations in Durban, South Africa, and Child Soldiers in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The lecture is presented by Austin College’s Mellon Grant and the Asian Studies program.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.